With five of the past six first-overall NHL draft picks being forwards from the Ontario Hockey League, OHL defensemen have had a lot of practice playing against elite offensive talent. And that’s reflected in the continued development of these 10 promising young NHL-drafted defensemen.

And it’s no surprise that all of these blueliners are anchors on playoff-bound teams (with two notable exceptions), as the presence of a dominant defender is a key part of a successful equation.

Though not part of the top 10, an honourable mention has to be extended to the Sarnia Sting’s 6’5”, 205-pound defenseman, who found his season cut short for the second consecutive year due to knee problems.… read more